Stomach Cancer Risk and Screening in Asian Americans

Also available in Tiếng Việt and 中文.

Stomach (gastric) cancer is uncommon in the United States overall, but it is several times more common in people of East Asian descent, including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese Americans. In countries such as Korea and Japan, routine endoscopy screening has helped find stomach cancer early. The U.S. has no national screening program, so it is important to know your risk.

Risk factors

• H. pylori infection, the most important cause of stomach cancer worldwide
• Being born in East Asia, Eastern Europe, or Latin America
• A family history of stomach cancer
• Smoking
• A diet high in salted, smoked, or pickled foods
• Pre-cancerous changes in the stomach lining (intestinal metaplasia) found on a prior endoscopy

H. pylori: test and treat

H. pylori is a common stomach infection that often spreads within families. It can be found with a breath, stool, or biopsy test and cured with a combination of antibiotics and acid-reducing medicine. Treating it lowers the risk of ulcers and stomach cancer. After treatment, testing again confirms the infection is gone. If you have H. pylori, family members living with you may benefit from testing too.

Who should consider screening endoscopy?

Some U.S. expert groups now suggest that adults at higher risk, such as first-generation immigrants from East Asia, people with a family history of stomach cancer, or those with a history of H. pylori, discuss screening upper endoscopy (EGD) with a gastroenterologist. During an EGD we look closely at the stomach lining and take biopsies if needed. Insurance coverage for screening varies, so we will review your plan with you.

Warning signs: see a doctor promptly

• Upper belly pain or indigestion that doesn't go away
• Feeling full after a small amount of food
• Unplanned weight loss
• Vomiting, black stools, or anemia
• Trouble swallowing

Care in your language

Dr. Ken D. Nguyen, whose clinical interests include gastric cancer screening in Asian patients, speaks Vietnamese, and Dr. Tim Chen and Dr. Dana Pan speak Mandarin.

Make an appointment

Our gastroenterologists in Temple City care for patients from Arcadia, San Gabriel, Pasadena, Monrovia, Monterey Park, and across the San Gabriel Valley. We accept most PPO plans (see accepted insurances), and our doctors speak English, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. Schedule an appointment or call 626-898-4560.

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your own health.